Dorica is a 30-year-old woman from Malawi, married with one daughter aged nine. Her husband works as a bicycle technician, repairing bicycles and motorcycles. Dorica used to engage in casual farm work, but is currently unable to due to her illness. Six years ago, Dorica began to experience troubling symptoms, which started with a small painless neck swelling. Over time, the swelling grew larger and Dorica also started experiencing breathlessness. She went to a local hospital to seek medical care and was diagnosed with a multi-nodular goiter. Presently, she experiences a heaviness on her neck, is unable to carry anything on her head and is unable to carry out her household chores. The doctors referred her to our medical partner's care facility, Partners in Hope Medical Centre (PiH) where surgery was recommended, but Dorica is unable to raise funds for the treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Dorica receive treatment. On April 17th, surgeons at PiH will perform a thyroidectomy to remove all or part of her thyroid gland, treat her condition and to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Now, Dorica needs help to fund this $1,015 procedure. Dorica says, “Kindly help me to resume my daily activities, and responsibly care for my family.”

Curtis is a second grade student from Kenya. Curtis is accompanied by his grandmother at the hospital. He is jovial and inquisitive. Curtis is the only child in his family and is being raised by his grandmother. His mother left him with his grandmother when he was 3 years to work in the Middle East. His father works at a timber yard splitting wood earning an inconsistent income. Curtis was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Curtis has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Curtis will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 5th. AMH is requesting $646 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Curtis' grandmother says: “He needs treatment to be healthy in the future.”

Kennedy is a 55-year-old married man who has three daughters, all of whom are still in school. Kennedy - who is a primary school teacher - lives with his family in Malawi. He is the sole breadwinner for his family. Kennedy started having pain in his neck in 2016. Because the pain kept recurring, Kennedy went to Kamuzu Central Hospital, where some tests were performed, after which Kennedy was sent home with pain medicine. This past year, the pain in Kennedy's neck increased, and began to affect his shoulders. In addition, a swelling in his neck developed. Kennedy returned to the hospital, and after additional testing was done, he was diagnosed with a goiter. Kennedy met a friend who helped to connect him with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare to help him get treatment. Kennedy's diagnosis was confirmed, and he is now scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 21st, at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Now he needs your help to raise the $1,015 to fund his surgery. Kennedy believes that the surgery will help him get back to his normal life, enabling him to be more effective and efficient in delivering his duties as a teacher.